Rewita Biddle skips past the final tackle to score for Te Puna in Saturday's final. Photo / Andrew Warner
Rewita Biddle skips past the final tackle to score for Te Puna in Saturday's final. Photo / Andrew Warner
Sometimes in sport, the final result is just meant to be.
The 20th Vaughan Kuka Memorial 10s Tournament won by host club Te Puna on Saturday was one such occasion.
Te Puna and Bethlehem's Hangarau made it through pool play and playoffs to contest the final played at Maramataga Park in ideal conditions as the threatening rain showers stayed away to the delight of the good-sized crowd.
Inspired by the news this would be the last time the Kuka family would use the tournament as a memorial to Vaughan, the Te Puna boys - led by Bay of Plenty reps Te Aihe Toma and Jeff Thwaites - dominated from the opening whistle to romp away to a 36-5 win.
Zane Kapeli, one of several new faces in the Te Puna team that included the sensation of last year's St Kentigern College first XV Etene Nanai, opened the scoring with a powerful run and after a typically clever break from open play by playmaker Rewita Biddle, Harry O'Dea crossed to make it 12-0.
Just on the halftime hooter Hamish Boyce set up O'Dea for a double and comfortable 17-0 lead that Te Puna extended easily to 36-0 before the hard-working Hangarau boys got a deserved consolation at the end.
Two players to watch in 2018 are undoubtedly Nanai and Jayjay Su'emai. Straight out of the Auckland under-18 system, they both scored spectacular tries in the final.
Agnes Kuka with the trophy dedicated to her son Vaughan. Photo / Andrew Warner
Te Puna captain Toma paid tribute to what the day meant to his team and the club.
"It means a lot not just to our club but all the clubs that have come here today, especially Hangarau having [Vaughan Kuka's son] Watene play for them against Te Puna who he has played for his whole life. That just says it all for what it means to us," he said.
Toma knows it is early season footy but he could not help smiling about the new players in the Te Puna squad.
"There is a lot of talent that has come through and this gives them a good chance to show what they have got and to put their best foot forward leading into the season ahead."
Te Puna coach Aidan Kuka said his family and club decided that 20 years was a significant amount of time to play for someone's memory.
His uncle died 22 years ago.
"The whanau thought the time was right to close it off but the tens as such will carry on in the tournament as always. It is just the trophy that we play for won't be up for grabs anymore," Kuka said.
"This is definitely one of our biggest fundraising days for the club and everyone chips in and jumps on board, helping on the gate or gets in behind the barbecue or selling raffles or whatever to take advantage of the big crowds we get that come in and support our day.
"We are very grateful to our loyal teams that have backed us up in this tournament for the last 20 years. Today was another typical tens tournament really. We had 15 teams and a huge crowd here. We love the concept of tens, as it is not as fast as sevens and is more inviting for tight forwards to play."
